Feeding mechanism for can-washing machines.



H. D. LATHROP & W. H. PAULSON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l6. l9. 1g 49p13@u Patented Dec. 4, 191? 5SHEETS-SHEET I.

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H. D. LATHROP & W. H. PAULSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED FEB- 16.19]].

L gifiu Patented Dec. 4,1912.

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5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Dec. 4, 1912.

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zmATmRA/Ey H. D. LATHROP & W. H. PAULSON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16,1912.

FEEDWG MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES.

-IIIWII XI I WI TNESSES: Z5 6, m

H. D. LATHROP & W. H. PAU LSON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES. APPLICATION men FEB- 16.1917.

1 ,EQQJ. 3 0. Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

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HARRY D. LATHBOP AND WAL'IER H. PAULSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAN-WASHING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec, a, tort.

Application filed February 16, 1917. Serial No. 149,101.

g To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY D. LATHROP and WALTER H. PAULSON, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of the city of machine, as mentioned,which will be of durable and economical construction and efficient inuse.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

' The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can washing machine embodying theinvention,

Fig. 2, a fragmental detail illustrating the can arresting mechanismemployed at the discharge end of the machine,

Fig. 3, a partially sectional side elevation of the inlet or entranceend of the machine,

showing the opposite side of the machine from that disclosed in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4, a section taken on substantially line 7-7 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5, a section taken on substantially line 8-8 of Fig. 3, 6, asection taken on substantially line 99 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7, a section taken on substantially line"10-10 of Fig. 3, and

Figs. 8 and 9, sections taken on substantially lines 11-11 and 12-12ofFig. 1.

The preferred form of constructlon, as illustrated in the drawings, comrises a suitable supportinguframe 15 int e lower portion of which aremounted spaced centrally positioned longitudinally extending ide rails16, adapted to constitute a guide fir the milk cans A which are adaptedto he slid along said guide rails in the washing or cleansing operation.Oorrespondingly mounted in the upper end of the frame 15 are spacedcentrally positioned 1ongitudinally extending guide rails 17 adapted toconstitute a guide for the covers B of the milk cans in the cleansing ofsaid covers as hereinafter set forth.

For the feeding or pushing of the cans A along the guide rails 16, afeedin device is provided comprising elongated ars 18 which are arrangedbetween the guide rails 16 and freely slidable independently thereof, asseen in the several views. To

alleviate friction, rollers 19, as seen in Fig.

5, maybe employed tosupport the bars 18 in the slidin orreciprocatorymovement of the same. paced along the bars 18 are pairs ofengaging pawls 20 pivotally connected therewith at 21. Said pawls 20 areadapted normally to assume positions, as indicated in Fig. 6, in whichthe forward ends thereof project above the upper edges ,of the guiderails 16 for engagement with the cans A arranged upon said guide rails,

as clearly seen in Fig. 6. Downward rocking of the rearward ends ofpawls 20 is limited by stops 22 fined to bars 18, as seen in Fig. 6. Thearrangement is such, as will be seen, that during reciprocation of thefeed bars 18, the pawls 20 in the forward movement of said feed barswill engage with the cans A and cause the same to he slid or advancedalong the guide rails 16. In the rearward movement of the bars 18, thepawls 20, because of the pivotal mounting thereof, will yield'downwardlyso as to pass under the cans in order to position each pair of saidpawls, upon each return movement of the same, behind the next rearwardcan. The amplitude of reciprocation of the feeding mechanism is greaterthan the width of the cans, so that, with this arrangement, it isapparent that upon each reciprocation distance. Moreover, the cans areindividually engaged, so that one can, or any number of cans, may beintermittently pushed or fed through the machine through reciprocatorymovement of the feeding mechanism.

Likewise the can covers B are fed through the machine through the mediumof a mechanism of a like construction, the same comprising reciprocatorybars 23 arranged between the guide rails 17, said feed bars carryingpawls 25 pivotally mounted at 26 upon said feed bars. Stops 27codperate. with pawls 25 to limit downward movement of the rearward endsthereof The operation of this feeding mechanism cotiperating with thecan covers is precisely the same as that used in connection with themilk cans before described. The two feeding mechanisms are connectedtogether for simultaneous opera.- tion by means of, connecting bars 28which rigidly connect the rearward ends of feed bars 18 and 23, as seenin Figs. 1, 3 and 7.

Said feeding mechanism is manually operated through the medium of anoscillatory lever 29 fulcrumed at 30. From the fulcrumed endof saidlever projects an integral arm 31 which is connected at its upper end bymeans of a link 32 with a rocker arm 33 pivotally connected at 34 withthe frame 15. The upper end of arm 33 is connected with an arm 35 whichis pivotally mounted in a carriage 36 slidably mounted between guidebars 37, as clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 7, arm 35 being also connectedat its inner end with bars 28 which connect the can cover feedingmechanisms. The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that reciprocationor actuation of the feeding mechanism of the machine may be efi'ected bysimply oscillating the lever 29.

In order to hold the can covers in the positions to which the same areadvanced with each reciprocation of the feeding mechanism cooperatingtherewith, a series of plates or leaves 38 are provided, arranged abovethe cover guide and pivotally connected at their rearward ends by meansof crank or ofiset spindles 39 with rigid frame bars 40 at the upper endof the machine. The arrangement is such that the members 38 normallyassume an inclined position in the direct path of the can covers. Assaid covers are moved along the cover guide, said members 38frictionally engage against the upper sides thereof, as clearly seen inFig. 6, serving to hold the same against relative movement upon returnsliding of the can feeding,

mechanism, as will be readily understood.

. The employment of a crank or ofi'set spindle for connecting themembers 38 with the frame of the machine, of course allows for relativevertical adjustment of the pivotal axes, thereby permitting said membersto always assume positions resting flatly against the upper sides of thecovers. The under sides of plates 38 are of channel form, whereby saidplates serve as keepers to hold the covers centrally upon the guiderails 17.

In the travel of the milk cans along the guide rails 16, the same are inan inverted position, as seen in the several views, said cans, when thesame reach the discharge ends of said guide rails, being pushedtherefrom by the feeding mechanism on to a rock. ingly mounted reversingmember 41 which serves to automatically reverse each can and deliver thesame onto an inclined discharge chute 42 where the covers of the cansare applied to the latter, after which the same are completelydischarged from the machine. This reversing and cover-applyingmechanism, however, is not claimed in this application and therefore nodetail description is here given. However, in order to absolutely arrestthe movement of each can before the same reaches the discharge ends ofthe guide rails 16, in order to prevent premature discharge of the sameinto the reversing device 41, a stop or arresting member 43 is provided,as seen in Figs. 2 and 8. The member 43 is arranged centrally betweenthe guide rails 16, adjacent the discharge ends thereof, said memberbeing pivotally mounted at 44 in stationary supporting rms 44 which arerigidly connected with a suitable or convenient portion of the framework of the machine.

In order to retain the cans and covers centrally upon the guide rails 16and 17, side bars 78 and 79 are preferably employed, as clearly shown inFig. 8.

With the construction as set forth it will then be seen that in theoperation of the same, it is only necessary for the operator to placethe cans and covers into the machine at one end of the same. This havingbeen done the lever 29 needs only to be oscillated to effect theintermittent feeding of the can through the machine. Where a largenumber of cans are to be cleaned a can will be inserted after eachcomplete oscillation of the handle, the cans thus inserted proceedingthrough the machine in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. To aidin the proper positioning of the cans and covers on the respective guiderails, upon insertion of the same into the machine, stationary stops 20and 25 are provided as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In the passage of thesame through the machine, each can is successivelysubjected to thewashing, sterilizing and drying action as above described.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the -spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth,

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters i Fatent is:

1 A machine of the class described compris ng a guide for the objects tobe cleaned;

feeding means for intermittently moving the objects along said guide;means for temporarily arresting the forward movement of an object at aposition to which the same is moved by said feeding means, saidarresting means comprising a movably mounted normally inoperative memberadapted to obstruct the path of an object mounted for 2. A machine ofthe class described com? prising a guide for the objects to be cleaned;

reciprocatory feeding means for intermittently moving the objects alongsaid guide, said feeding means being operative in only one directlon ofmovement thereof, the re turn movement of said means being idle;

.movably mounted normally means for temporarily arresting the for Wardmovement of an object at a position to which the same is moved by saidfeeding means, said arresting means comprising a inoperative memberadapted to obstruct the path of an object mounted for travel on saidguide; and means for locking said arresting member in operative positionas said feeding means reaches its forward terminal of movement andreleasing said member upon return movement of said feeding means,substantially as described.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a guide for the objectsto be cleaned; feeding means for intermittently moving the objects alongsaid guide; means for temporarily arresting the forward movement of anobject at a position to which the same is moved by said feeding means,said arresting means comprising a pivotally mounted normally inoperativemember adapted to obstruct the path of an object mounted for travel onsaid guide; and means for automatically locking said arresting member inoperative position upon advance of the ob ject on said guide,substantially as described.

4:. A machine of the class described comprising superposed can and coverguides;

means for individually and intermittently moving said cans and coverssimultaneously along said guides, said means comprising two series ofreeiprocatory spaced engaging devices adapted for engagement with thecans and covers; and a rigid connection between said series of engagingdevices for stantially as described.

5. A machineof the class described comprising superposed can and coverides; means for individually and intermlttently moving said cans andcovers simultaneously along said guides, said means comprising twoseries of reciprocatory spaced engaging devices adapted for engagementwith the cans and covers; 'reciprocatory elements carrying said engagingdevices; and means extending between and rigidly connecting saidelements for effecting unisonous movement thereof, substantially asdescribed.

6. A machine for cleansing milk cans and the covers therefor, comprisingsuperposed can and cover guides; means for individually andintermittently moving said cans and covers simultaneously along saidguides, said means comprising two series of reciprocatory spacedengaging devices adapted for engagement with the cans and covers; and anoperative connection between said series of engaging devices foreffecting unisonous movement thereof, substantially as described.

7 A machine of the class described comprising a guide for the objects tobe cleaned; means for individually and intermittently moving the objectsalong said guide; and pivotally mounted members arranged for efiec'tingunisonous movement thereof, subrocking in a Vertical plane adapted forengagement against the upper sides of the obj ects mounted upon saidguide for yieldingly holding said objects in positions to which the sameare advanced in the operation of said last mentioned means, the undersides of said members being channel-formed to receive the upper portionsof said objects,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY D. LATHRQP. WALTER H. PAULSUN.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, ARTHUR A. Orson.

